Barnard, Thomas, (1)

Barnard, Thomas, (1), a Congregational minister, was born at Hadley, Mass., about 1662. He graduated at Harvard College in 1679, was called as an assistant to the Rev. Francis Dane, pastor of the Church at Andover, Mass., in January, 1682, and was ordained in March following. When Mr. Dane died in February, 1699, Mr. Barnard succeeded to the pastorate. During four or five years before the division of the towninto two parishes, the contention was warm in regard to the site for a new meeting-house; but in 1709 the division was amicably made, and Mr. Barnard, who had conducted himself throughout the controversy with prudence, was given the choice of the parishes. Eventually he was settled as minister of the North Parish. He died in Andover, Oct. 13, 1718. He is described as "one of the best of men and of ministers." See Sprague, Annals of the Amer. Pulpit, i, 198.